Improvement in machine foe grinding the cutters of harvesting-machines



@einen tartes stent' @fitta WILLIAM H. STEVENSOR OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 74,730, dated February 18, 1868.

. IMPROVEMENT IN lMACHINE FOR GBINDIN G THE GUTTERS OP EARVESTING-MAGHINES.

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trol ALL .WHOM 1T MAY eoNeERN:

Be it known that-I, WILLIAM H. STEVENSO'Y, of Auburn, in the county of Cayuga, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinery for Grinding Harvester-Cutters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which makepart of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of my improved machine.

Figure 2 represents a plan or top view of the same; and

Figure 3, a view in elevation of the same, as seen from one side.

The cutter now almost universally `used in harvesters consists of a series of triangular steel blades, secured side by side upon an iron or steel bar, inY advance of which their points project. These cutters are, moreover, generally bevelled on one side, and flush on the other, and usually riveted to the bar.` As the sharpeninginstrument must be introduced between the forks, where the space is very limited, it will be perceived that the problem to be solved, namely, that of producing a machine which will rapidly and effectively sharpen the cutters, is one of no small'ditiiculty. 4

New, the object of my invention is to supply such a machine, and the improvements herein claimed consist First,`in a novel methodof mounting a grindstone on an overhanging shaft, supported in bea-rings: on one side of the stone only, so as to allow the` cutters to be applied to the side of the grindstone, instead of to its periphery.

Second, in a novel method kot" constructing an oscillating clamp-bar or frame to hold the cutters, whereby both edges ofthe cutters may be sharpened without removing them from the clamp-frame.

Third, in a novel method of combining, with an oscillating clamp-benin which the cutters are held, adjust able supports, which hold the cutters firmly against the stone while being sharpened.

Fourth, in a novel method of combining, with a grinds,tone,a clamp-bar for holding the cutters while being sharpened, whereby the clamp-bar is rendered adjustable, vertically, laterally, and longitudinally, thus adapting it to cutters of different sizes and of dierent angles of bcvelling. i

Fifth, ina novel method of combining, with the adjustable elampbar, holding-clamps which are adjustable longitudinally to compensate for the adjustments of the clamp-bar.

Sixth, in a novel method of' constructing the frame which sustains the mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, which show one-convenient way'of carrying out the objects of my invention, a frame or bed-plate, A, is shown as formed in a U-shupe, and as supported upon legs, B. These legs are pivoted to the frame at b, so as to permit them to be turned up when the machine is to be moved, and thus diminishes its bulk, and may be braced in any well-known way, so that they may support the frame firmly. A shaft, C, is mounted in arched or V-shaped bearings,`D D, bolted to or forming part of the frame. The grindstone, F, is supported on the shaft by bearings on one side only. The shaft may be rotated by a crank, E, or by a pulley or drum, driven by a band in the usual way. A watertrough, G, is arranged on the frame beneath the grind stone. A clamping-har or rack, H, is pivotcd at or near it centre, 7L, so as to oscillate longitudinally on a vertical spindle, I, being held in place by a shoulder, z', and a nut, This spindle has a male screw cut on it, and passes through a slot, a, in the frame, to which it is clamped by a nu't, t'2above the frame, and a jawmut, z3, below. i

It will be observed that there are three of these slots shown in the drawing, all running at an angle to the grindstone, but parallel with each other. By shifting the spindle from one slot to the other its relation to the grindstone is varied, as well as the angle at which the cutters are presented. The spindle can also be adjusted nearer. to or farther from the grindstone, in its slet, and held firmly by the jaw-nut. The rack can also bo raised or lowered by screwing the spindle up or down in the nut i2.

The cutters j, .attached to the cutter-bar J, rest on a flange,j, outhe bar H, and can be moved freely endwise therein, to adjust them to the proper position for grinding. When so adjusted, they are held by hooked clamps, K, passing through slots, 7c, in the bar H. These slots allow the clamps to be adjusted nearer to or farther from the spindle I. Radiusbars, L, are pivoted to these clamp-screws, and areprovided, at their outer ends, with set-screws Z, which press against the cutter-teeth, and hold them firmly lwhile being ground.

It will thus be seen that the cutters can be adjusted vertically,'latcrally, and longitudinally,and also have a swinging motion to 4and from, and a traversing motion across the side of the stone, by which means, ,in combination with the revolving motion ofthe stone', the cutters can be sharpened by grinding away 'their bcvelled edges close up to the forks. Forwant of such a Adevice it has heretofore generally been 'the custom to grind. away the lush side of the blade, which is undesirable for many reasons. The value and importance of my.l invention will thus be obvious. The frame A may be-of metal, and cast in one piece.

In operatiomthe cutters are placed in the clamp-bar or rack II, which is adjusted at ythe proper distance yfrom the stone tosuit the bevel of the cutters. The cutter-bar is moved endwise in the clamp until the edge ot' the section to bc sharpened is in proper position to be acted upon by the grindstone.v The clamps, K, are thenv moved into their slots, until in proper position, when they are screwed up to clamp themselves, as well as the I cutters, in place. The radius-bars are then adjusted with their set-screws opposite the points-of the teeth.V The cutters are then swung in horizontally against the face of the grindstone, and sharpened by moving them endwise until each in succession has been sha1` )cned on one side. The rack is then swunCr round as shown in iig.2, and the same process repeated with the other edge of each tooth.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi 1. The combination, substantially as described, of the U shaped frame A and the V-shaped bearings D D with the grindstone, mounted on the overhanging shaft, for the purposes set forth.

2. The oscillating clamping-frame or holding-rack Il, operating substantially as described.

3. The combination, substantially as described, with the oscillating clamp-bar, oT the adjustable supports L Z, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, substantially as described, of a grindstone, mounted on one end of an overhanging shaft, with a. vertically, laterally, and longitudinally adjustable' swinging clamping-bar, for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, substantially as described, of the clamping-bar H, adjustable clamps K, radius-bars and set-screws l, for the purpose set forth.

6. The U-sha-ped frame A, constructed as described.

In testimony whereof, I' have hereunto subscribed my name.

WM. H. STEVENSON.

Witnesses:

Henson T. CooK, Y

SYLvEsTER W. STEvnN'soN. 

